Also: Book Recommendations
Pregnancy/Expecting
She’s Having a Baby — And I’m Having a Breakdown, James Douglas Barron
What To Expect When You’re Expecting, Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Merkoff, & Sandee E. Hathaway
What to Expect, The Toddler Years, Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Merkoff, & Sandee E. Hathaway
What to Expect, First Year, Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Merkoff, & Sandee E. Hathaway
Welcoming Your Second Baby, Vicki Lansky
Babies
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby, Marc Weissbluth, M.D.
The Happiest Baby on the Block, Dr. Harvey Karp
Your Baby’s First Year, American Academy of Pediatrics
Heading Home With Your Newborn, AAP
The Nursing Mother’s Companion, Kathleen Huggins
Nursing Mother, Working Mother, Gayle Pryor
Your Baby’s First Year, Steven P. Shelov
Brain Rules for Baby, John Medina
Baby Meets World: Suck, Smile, Touch, Toddle – A Journey Through Infancy, Nicholas Day
The New Father- A Dad’s Guide to the First Year, Armin A. Brott
Instagram resources:
takingcarababies baby sleep support by a neonatal nurse/certified pediatric sleep consultant
feedinglittles baby led weaning and picky eating experts, online courses for starting solids, toddlers and kids.
Solidstarts team of pediatric feeding experts and doctors guide you on how to introduce real food to babies, and how to prevent/reverse picky eating in kids, free first foods database and app
Healthy.mom.healthy.kids nutritionist specializing in picky eaters and baby led weaning.
feedinglittles a dietician and OT feeding therapist help you navigate feeling infants, toddlers and kids; tips on baby led weaning and picky eating
zaynesplate feeding tips for 6 mo+, baby led weaning recipes
Montessori.spaces activities, practical life hacks, nature based learning
Playingwithchanel pediatric occupational therapist with simple activities based on developmental principles
Theparentcollective prenatal and motherhood support with online and in-person classes, community groups, and coaching sessions to support mothers (located in Westport!)
Apps/Websites:
Baby Sign and Learn sign language for babies
Car Seat Check advice from the AAP on choosing the right car seat for your child and installing it safely.
Montessori.spaces activities, practical life hacks, nature based learning
Playingwithchanel pediatric occupational therapist with simple activities based on developmental principles
Toddlers
*The Whole Brain Child, Daniel Siegel- a trio of Dr. Jenn’s faves!
*No Drama Discipline, Daniel Siegel
*The Yes Brain, Daniel Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson
Siblings Without Rivalry, Adele Faber
*Toddler 411, Denise Fields & Ari Brown
*The Happiest Toddler on the Block, Harvey Karp
*The Yale Child Study Center Guide to Understanding Your Child, Linda Mayes & Donald Cohen
1,2,3 Magic, Thomas Phelan
Raising a Self-Disciplined Child, Robert Brooks & Sam Goldstein
The Second Twelve Months of Life, Frank Kaplan & Theresa Kaplan
The Irreducible Needs of Children, T. Berry Brazelton & Stanley Greenspan
How Toddlers Thrive: What Parents Can Do Today for Children Ages 2-5 to Plant the Seeds of Lifelong Success, Tovah P. Klein, Ph.D.
The Emotional Life of the Toddler, Alicia F. Lieberman
Instagram resources:
biglittlefeelings toddler experts, how to tame tantrums
drbeckyatgoodinside pediatric psychologist with excellent parenting advice
childmindinstitute support for families struggling with mental health and learning disorders
curiousparenting educated approach to raising empathetic, resilient, liberated kids; based on First Nations parenting methods
adviceigivemyfriends Dr Kelly Fraidin with evidence based parenting and health tips
drtanyaaltmann pediatrician and kids feeding author
kckidsdoc Dr Natasha Burgert pediatrician
dr.nicolebaldwin evidence based parenting and health tips
Apps/Websites:
AHAparenting Parenting tools and advice from Dr. Laura Markham, clinical psychologist, specializing in relationship-based parenting.
Two Peds in a Pod Blog and podcasts on a variety of pediatric topics by two pediatrician-moms.
Seattle Mama Doc Blog written by a pediatrician/mom for Seattle Children’s Hospital; Dr. Swanson tackles a wide variety of basic pediatric issues including many timely pieces related to what is in current media.
Science of Mom Blog written by a nutritionist/mom covering a wide variety of parenting topics with an emphasis on nutrition and sleep.
Quest for Health Pediatrician Kristen Stuppy writes practical, easily understandable posts on common pediatric illnesses and health maintanance.
Kids in the House a parenting website chock-full of fantastic videos and articles on difficult parenting issues such as bullying, discipline, special needs, educational challenges, divorce and more.
School-aged Children
*The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, Wendy Mogel
* The Difficult Child, Stanley Turecki & Leslie Tonner
* The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child, Alan E. Kazdin
The Everyday Parenting Toolkit: The Kazdin Method for Easy, Step-by-Step Lasting
Change for You and Your Child, Alan E. Kazdin
Why Can’t You Catch Me Being Good?, Edythe Denkin
Siblings Without Rivalry, Adele Faber
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, Adele Faber
Your Defiant Child, Russell A. Barkley & Christine M. Benton
Who’s In Control?, Lawrence Balter
*What to Do When Your Temper Flairs, Don Huebner
Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads, Rosaland Wiseman
*Parenting from the Inside Out, Daniel J. Siegel MD & Mary Hartzell M.Ed
Dad to Dad, David L. Hill
Nurture Shock, Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Children First, Penelope Leach
The Magic Years, Selma Fraiberg
Parents Under Siege, James Garbarino
*Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain
Building Healthy Minds, Stanley Greenspan
The Care and Keeping of Friends – American Girl Library, Sally Seamans & Nadine Bernard Wescott
The Hurried Child, David Elkind
Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility, Foster Cline, M.D. & Jim Fay
Duct Tape Parenting: A Less Is More Approach to Raising Respectful, Responsible, and Resilient Kids, Vicki Hoefle
Teach Your Children Well, Madeline Levine, PhD
For Kids:
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings, Jo Witek
My Many Colored Days, Dr. Seuss
Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too), Keith Negley
When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really Angry…, Molly Bang
Instagram resources:
adolescent.nutrition diet free advice on nurturing healthy eating habits and food relationships in teens
Apps/websites:
NetsSmartz Important Internet safety topics such as cyberbullying, sexting, social networking and other online risks.
CommonSenseMedia An independent, non-profit organization that provides extensive information on media and digital activities for children, including ratings of a variety of media (movies, apps, television, etc.)
Teens and Older Children
*Reviving Ophelia, Mary Pipher
*See Jane Win, Sylvia Rimm, Sarah Rimm-Kaufman, & Ilonna Rimm
*”Trust Me, Mom — Everyone Else Is Going!”, Roni Cohen-Sandler
*”I’m Not Mad, I Just Hate You!”, Roni Cohen-Sandler
Girls on the Edge, Leonard Sax
Best Friends, Worst Enemies, Michael Thompson, Catherine O’Neill Grace, & Lawrence J. Cohen
Getting it Right With Teens, Madelyn Swift
How Children Succeed, Paul Tough
Letting Go With Love and Confidence, Kenneth Ginsberg & Susan Fitzgerald
Yardsticks, Chip Wood
Who’s Game Is It, Anyway?, Richard D. Ginsberg, Steven Durant, & Amy Baltzel
Real Boys, William Pollack
Get Out of My Life, But First Can You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall?, Anthony E. Wolf
Between Parent and Child, Haim G. Ginott
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain
Raising Kids to Thrive: Balancing Love with Expectations and Protection with Trust, Kenneth R. Ginsberg, MD
Not So Fast: Parenting Your Teen Through the Dangers of Driving, Tim Hollister
Twins
Twins and What They Tell Us About Who We Are, Lawrence Wright
What to Do When You’re Having Two, Natalie Diaz
Two is for Twins, Wendy Cheyette Lewison
Born Together – Reared Apart: The Landmark Minnesota Twin Study, Nancy L. Segal
Raising Twins: Parenting Multiples from Pregnancy Through the Years (2nd Ed.), Shelly Flais
Websites:
Preparing for Twins – http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/Pages/Preparing-for-Twins.aspx
Mothers of Multiples of Fairfield County – https://www.bigtent.com/groups/momslfc
Anxiety/Depression
Kevin Henke books: Wemberly Worried; Chrysanthemum; Sheila Rae, the Brave
Will it be Okay?, Crescent Dragonwagon
There’s a Nightmare in my Closet, Mercer Mayer
There’s an Alligator under my Bed, Mercer Mayer
Annie Stories: A Special Kind of Storytelling, Doris Brett
Don’t Feed the WorryBug, Andi Green
The Fix-It Friends: Have No Fear!, Nicole Kear
Hector’s Favorite Place, Jo Rooks
How Big Are Your Worries Little Bear?, Jayneen Snaders
Pilar’s Worries, Victoria Sanchez
What To Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety, Dawn Huebner (a workbook for parents to do with their children)
CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)- Workbook for Kids, Heather Davidson
Jilly’s Terrible Temper Tantrums and How She Outgrew Them, Martha H. Pieper, Ph. D.
Can I Catch it Like a Cold? Coping With a Parent’s Depression, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
My Family Divided, Dianne Guerrero
ADHD
Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book About Living With ADHD, Jeanne Kraus
Why Can’t Jimmy Sit Still?, Sandra L. Tunis, Ph.D.
Autism
All About Me- A Step-by-Step Guide to Telling Children and Young People on the Autism Spectrum about Their Diagnosis, Andrew Miller
All My Stripes, A Story for Children with Autism, Shaina Rudolph & Danielle Royer
Armond Goes to a Party: A Book About Asperger’s and Friendship, Nancy Carlson
A Boy Called Bat, Elana Arnold
A Whole New Ballgame: A RIp and Red Book, Phil Bildner
Apps/Websites:
Autism Science Foundation
The Autism Science Foundation provides funding directly to scientists conducting cutting edge autism research to discover the causes of autism and develop better treatments. They also provide information about autism to the general public, and support the needs of individuals with autism and their families.
http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/Committees-Councils-Sections/Council-on-Children-with-Disabilities/Pages/Autism.aspx
Asperkids
We are a social education service that encompasses the work of international-award-winner (Aspie, teacher, and Aspie mommy), Jennifer Cook O’Toole, in multiple mediums. Asperkids exists to make life for children with Aspergers more positive and purposeful, and to assist the adults in their lives in the ways they understand, parent, teach and respond to their children.
http://asperkids.com/aboutak/
A.S.P.E.N.
Asperger’s Syndrome Education Network: A national non-profit organization headquartered in New Jersey that provides education and support to families and individuals affected with Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS, High Functioning Autism, and related disorders.
http://www.aspennj.org
Autism Society of America
http://www.autism-society.org
At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. We are dedicated to funding global biomedical research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families, and society; and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation
The mission of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation is to develop and award grants to programs that benefit adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
http://www.djfiddlefoundation.org
info@djfiddlefoundation.org
The International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) is a scientific and professional organization devoted to advancing knowledge about autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), including autism, Apserger syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (PDD NOS).
http://www.autism-insar.org/
National Autism Center
The National Autism Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting effective, evidence-based treatment approaches and providing direction to families, practitioners, organizations, policy-makers, and funders.
http://www.nationalautismcenter.org
info@nationalautismcenter.org
OASIS – Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support
A national online support group and resource for parents, professionals, and individuals with Asperger Syndrome. Includes online support boards, chatrooms, as well as publications, resources, and other comprehensive information.
Contacts: Barbara Kirby and Patricia Romanowski Bashe
http://www.aspergersyndrome.org
The Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism
A source for evidence-based information curated by people with autism, parents of children with autism and autism professionals.
http://www.thinkingautismguide.com
Bullying/Self-Esteem
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, Maria Dismondy
Am I a Bully?, Hope Gilchrist
Chrysanthemum, Kevin Henkes
Tease Monster: A Book About Teasing vs. Bullying, Julia Cook
Warp Speed, Lisa Yee
Wonder, R.J. Palacio
Find Your Happy- A Kids Self Love Book, Patricia May
Real Kids Come in All Sizes, Kathy Kater
Car Seat Safety
The Car Seat Lady: help with choosing the right car seat, installation, and vehicle selection for growing families: https://thecarseatlady.com/
Car Seat Check advice from the AAP on choosing the right car seat for your child and installing it safely.
US Department of Transportation: overview of car seats and booster seats, installation, guidelines for use, ratings and recalls, and location services for installation support:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats
American Academy of Pediatrics information and guidelines for car and booster seats:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx
Find a car seat technician for installation assistance:
Team of Child Passenger Safety Technicians who help caregivers with three main types of questions: seat selection, installation and use, and clarifying niche issues that may not be clearly addressed in the car seat’s manual:
Death and Grieving
When Someone VERY Special Dies, Marge Heegard
Remembering Crystal, Sebastian Loth
The 10th Great Thing About Barney, Judith Viorst
Freddie the Leaf, Leo Buscaglia
The Invisible String, Patrice Karst
Art With Heart Presents: Draw It Out, Steffanie Lorig & Rosalie Frankel
I Miss You: A First Look at Death, Pat Thomas
One Wave at a Time: A Story About Grief and Healing, Holly Thompson
Dental Health
the.dentistmom guiding parents through the challenges of baby teeth
Divorce
Divorce in Not the End of the World: Zoe’s and Evan’s Coping Guide for Kids here
Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families, Mark Brown
More books on divorce for kids here
MoreStepmonster: A New Look at Why Real Stepmonsters Think, Feel and Act We Do, Wednesday Martin
Food Allergies
Apps/websites:
The Bugabees: Friends With Food Allergies teaches young children how to manage their food allergies
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) comprehensive website covering all you need to know about food allergy prevention and treatment.
Schools.allergyhome.org website devoted to food allergy education for home and school (parents, kids and teachers), great teaching tools and resources
Learning Disabilities
Back to Front and Upside Down!, Claire Alexander
Fish in a Tree, Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Apps/websites:
Understood Resources for learning disability, sensory integration and attentional disorders
The LD Navigator Comprehensive resource guide for parents of children with learning disabilities.
CHADD National resource site for children and adults with ADD/ADHD
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
A national network of state-based advocacy groups for families affected by Learning Disabilities.
http://www.ldanatl.org
Gender Identity/LGBTQA+ resources
Red: A Crayon’s Story, Michael Hall
The Letter Q- Queer Writers’ Notes to Their Younger Selves- Various Authors
Young Adult LGBTQ Books:
Like a Love Story, Abdi Nazemian
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, Sonora Reyes
All That’s Left in the World, Erik J. Brown
Gay Club!, Simon James Green
I Wish You All the Best, Mason Deaver
Dear Medusa, Olivia A. Cole
Kings of B’more, R. Eric Thomas
Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything, Justine Pucella Winans
The Passing Playbook, Isaac Fitzsimons
Darius the Great Is Not Okay, Adib Khorram
Beating Heart Baby, Lio Min
Man o’ War, Cory McCarthy
She Is a Haunting, Trang Thanh Tran
Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches, Kate Scelsa
The Dead and the Dark, Courtney Gould
It Goes Like This, Miel Moreland
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix, Anna-Marie McLemore
We Are Totally Normal, Naomi Kanakia
Only This Beautiful Moment, Abdi Nazemian
Cinderella Is Dead, Kalynn Bayron
The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes, Diane Ehrensaft
Lice
There’s a Louse in my House, Sheri Hayes
Moving
Henry and Mudge and Annie’s Good Move, Cynthia Rylant
Berenstein Bear’s Moving Day, Stan and Jan Berenstein
OCD
What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming OCD, Dawn Heuber
Finding Perfect, Elly Swartz
Mr. Worry: A Story About OCD, Holly Niner
OCDaniel, Wesley King
Up and Down the Worry Hill: A Children’s Book About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and its Treatment, Aureen Pinto Wagner
Preparing Children for Surgery/Procedures
I’ll Be O.K., Randall L. Lange, DVM) book and dog
Preparing Your Child for Surgery
How to Prepare your Toddler for Surgery Like a Boss
Preparing Children for New Siblings
When the New Baby Comes, I’m Moving Out, Martha
Alexander
The Pain and the Great One, Judy Blume
The Lap Snatcher, Bruce Coville
Peter’s Chair, Ezra Jack Keats
The New Baby, Fred Rogers
Pecan Pie Baby, Jacqueline Woodson
How You Were Born, Joanna Cole
It’s not the Stork!- A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends, Robie H. Harris & Michael Emberley
It’s so Amazing!- A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies and Families, Robie H. Harris & Michael Emberley
More books about expecting a new baby for siblings
Picky Eating
Good Enough to Eat, Lizzy Rockwell
Full Mouse, Empty Mouse- A Tale of Food and Feelings, Dina Zeckhausen
Instagram resources:
Solidstarts team of pediatric feeding experts and doctors guide you on how to introduce real food to babies, and how to prevent/reverse picky eating in kids, free first foods database and app
Healthy.mom.healthy.kids nutritionist specializing in picky eaters and baby led weaning.
feedinglittles a dietician and OT feeding therapist help you navigate feeling infants, toddlers and kids; tips on baby led weaning and picky eating
hangry_helper picky eating therapist
adolescent.nutrition diet free advice on nurturing healthy eating habits and food relationships in teens
Puberty
*The Care and Keeping of Your Body, American Girl part 1 and 2
*My Body, My Self for Boys, Area Madaras
“What’s Happening to My Body?”: A Book for Boys, Lynda Madaras
*It’s So Amazing, Robie H. Harris
*It’s Perfectly Normal, Robie H. Harris
*Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know about Sex (but were afraid they’d ask),
Justin Richardson and Mark A. Schusterm
*You Know, Sex, Corey Silverberg (LGBTQIA+-inclusive approach to puberty, sex, and gender for kids 10+, this bright comic book covers not only the big three of puberty—hormones, reproduction, and development—but also power, pleasure, and how to be a decent human being.)
*Sex is a Funny Word, Corey Silverberg (comic book for kids approx. 8-10 years)
*What Makes a Baby, Corey Silverberg (good for preschool to approx. 8 years)
*The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability, Corey Silverberg (a sex guide for people who live with disabilities, pain, illness, or chronic conditions)
Sex, Puberty, and All That Stuff, A Guide to Growing Up, Jacqui Bailey
What’s Biology All About, Usborne
Where Did I Come From?, Lyle Stuart
Physical Development in Girls: What to Expect
Physical Development in Boys: What to Expect
Safety
NO Trespassing – This is MY Body, Pattie Fitzgerald
I Said NO! A kid-to-kid guide to keeping private parts private- Zack & Kimberly King
My Body Belongs to Me- Jill Starishevsky
Poison Control 1-800-222-1222
Safe Kids Worldwide (preventing accidental injury)
Nationwide Children’s Safety and Injury Prevention – search ‘safety’
Self-Esteem
What I Like About Me!, Allia Zobel Nolan
Sometimes I Feel Like I Don’t Have Any Friends (But Not so Much Anymore), Tracy Zimmerman & Lawrence E. Shapiro, Ph. D.
Special Needs Resources
GiGi’s Playhouse – Down’s Syndrome Awareness Center
National Association of Down Syndrome – has newsletter, volunteer mentor families, English and Spanish speaking programs.
In Our Arms– support resources for families of children with disabilities
Apps/websites:
One Place for Special Needs Online resource for a huge range of special needs services, advice and support (for an equally wide range of needs- from anxiety and ADD to learning disabilities, brain injury, and rare disorders.)
https://www.friendshipcircle.org/ A wonderful resource for special needs parenting, from therapy to products and legal help.
Asperkids an insider’s guide to loving and understanding those with Asperger’s Syndrome
Special Needs Siblings
Just Because, Rebecca Elliot
Ricky, the Rock that Couldn’t Roll by Mr. Jay
A Day in our Shoes website has a comprehensive list of books for siblings of children with Autism and other Special Needs
Speech
Apps/websites:
Chikidsfeeding pediatric speech-language pathologist and feeding therapist, lactation consultant
speechsisters speech therapy experts
Stuttering
Thumbsucking
My Thumb and I: A Proven Approach to Stop a Thumb or Finger Sucking Habit for Ages 5-10, Carol Mayer
Trauma
A Terrible Thing Happened, Margaret Holmes
The War That Saved My Life, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Tourette’s Syndrome
Forget Me Not, Ellie Terry
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, Dusti Bowling
Vaccine Safety
How to do research about vaccines on the internet– a very thorough compendium of scientifically based articles/websites covering vaccine issues- start here!
VAXOPEDIA– An “A to Z” guide on all things related to vaccines and vaccine safety
50 most common Anti-vaccines myths and misinformation
You CAN research vaccine safety on the internet, just start here.
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/cashing-in-on-fear-the-danger-of-dr-sears/ (an excellent explanation of the risks of Dr. Sears’ “alternative vaccine schedule”)
http://rubyslippersx3.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/a-crunchy-moms-reversal-on-vaccinations.html (a well written article by a scientist turned “crunchy mom” who changed her mind on not vaccinating her children after extensive research- resource list included)
http://www.skepticalraptor.com (science based blog with a comprehensive list/look at studies on vaccine safety)
http://www.immunize.org/talking-about-vaccines/ the problem with Dr Bob’s alternative vaccine schedule
http://violentmetaphors.com/2014/03/25/parents-you-are-being-lied-to/
Injection versus Ingestion: myths vs facts on vaccine ingredients
Questioning whether to give your child the HPV vaccine? Read here
MTHFR genetics and why having the gene doesn’t predispose to vaccine reactions
Instagram resources:
Your_local_epidemiologist data driven updates and evidence-based approaches to modern day medical issues